This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:"Aspiring to these three forms of bliss, a wise person should guard his virtue.Which three? [Thinking,] 'May praise come to me,' a wise person should guard hisvirtue. [Thinking,] 'May wealth come to me,' a wise person should guard hisvirtue. [Thinking,] 'At the break-up of the body, after death, may I reappear ina good destination, in heaven,' a wise person should guard his virtue. Aspiringto these three forms of bliss, a wise person should guard his virtue."

1. "Intelligent, you should guard your virtue, aspiring to three forms of bliss:praise; the obtaining of wealth; and, after death, rejoicing in heaven.

2. "Even if you do no evil but seek out one who does,you're suspected of evil. Your bad reputation grows.

3. "The sort of person you make a friend, the sort you seek out,that's the sort you yourself become, for your living together is of that sort.

4. "The one associated with, the one who associates,the one who's touched, the one who touches anotherlike an arrow smeared with poison, contaminates the quiver.So, fearing contamination, the enlightenedshould not be comrades with evil people.

5. "A man who wraps rotting fish in a blade of kusa grassmakes the grass smelly: so it is if you seek out fools.

6. "But a man who wraps powdered incense in the leaf of a treemakes the leaf fragrant: so it is if you seek out the enlightened.

7. "So, knowing your own outcome as like the leaf-wrapper's,you shouldn't seek out those who aren't good.The wise would associate with those who are.Those who aren't good lead you to hell.The good help you reach a good destination."************* Love Buddha's dhamma,yawares/sirikanya